At least five days a week at 7 a.m. you could expect to see Pat Brennan already working out at the Old Colony YMCA.

Whether it was running on a treadmill, riding a stationary bike or using an elliptical machine, the 65-year-old varsity boys basketball assistant coach for Oliver Ames, was a role model for others, said Mcyveton Pierre-Louis, the health, wellness and membership director at the YMCA on Elm Street in Easton.

"He was a leader here. He worked hard and always had a smile on his face," Pierre-Louis said Friday.

On Wednesday night, Brennan was given a milestone certificate by Pierre-Louis during a ceremony at the YMCA. The certificate was for the 150 Club, an achievement given to members like Brennan, who attend the YMCA at least 150 times in a calendar year.

"When I gave him the award, he told me he was very thankful and that this is the best he's ever felt in his life," Pierre-Louis said.

Which made the news of Brennan's death on Thursday all the more shocking.

The cause of his death remains unknown. Brennan's wife, Paula, found him unconscious Thursday morning. He was rushed by ambulance to Good Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton but never regained consciousness, said Paula Brennan.

"Pat was always working out and he had actually lost a lot of weight," she said, adding that he went to the Y almost every day.

The Brennans celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary in November. They have four children, triplets Alli, Katie and Sean, all freshmen at Westfield State University, as well as older brother Michael.

"He just loved the game of basketball. We lost a great coach, and I lost a good friend," said Don Byron, head coach of the Oliver Ames boys basketball team.

A moment of silence to honor Brennan was held before Friday night's OA boys basketball game against Stoughton, with all four of Brennan's children in attendance.

"He was a colleague and a friend, and I will miss him," said Oliver Vil, who worked with Brennan as the other assistant coach at OA. They had worked together for the past four years.

"We would meet every day at practice, and Pat would send me texts or emails and have plays ready for me," said Vil, who is also the sports coordinator at the same YMCA where Brennan was a member.

That mentoring relationship was something that extended to the students as well, said Vil.

"He was such a positive influence when things went bad during a game and he would tell us little quotes that made us laugh and put things in perspective," Vil said.

Before working at OA, Brennan was a guidance counselor at Brockton High School for 36 years. He also served as a track, cross country and girls basketball coach at Brockton. Brennan had also been named Coach Of The Year by The Enterprise, Boston Globe and Massachusetts State Coaches Association.

Page 2 of 2 - A funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at the Holy Cross Church in South Easton, followed by a celebration of life reception at the Easton Country Club on Purchase Street. Everyone is welcome to come and share their stories and memories about Pat's life, said Paula Brennan.